In an effort to reduce right whale mortality due to vessel strikes, the government of Canada on 26 June 2019 implemented a temporary mandatory slow-down of vessels 20 meters in overall length or more, to a maximum of 10 knots when travelling in the western Gulf of St. Lawrence, in the two designated shipping lanes north and south of Anticosti Island. According to Transport Canada, this temporary measure comes in addition to the fixed 10 knot speed restriction that took effect in a large area of the Gulf of St. ...

Britannia’s branch office in Tokyo has just celebrated 30 years since the granting of its licence by the Japanese Ministry of Finance (now the Financial Services Agency) to carry out P&I and FD&D insurance business in Japan. In fact, Britannia was the first foreign P&I Club to be granted such a licence in Japan which reflects its continual commitment to the Japanese market. The Tokyo branch is headed by Mitsuhiko Ida, who has over 30 years of experience in the P&I industry with the office conveniently located next to the ...

Your Managers are very grateful to Pandiman Philippines Inc., the Club’s correspondents in Manila, who have provided the following reminder of the hazards associated with the carriage of nickel ore, as the seasonal export of this dangerous cargo from the Philippines gets underway. The dangers posed by the carriage of nickel ore cargoes arising from their propensity to liquefy cannot be over-stressed. Some one hundred lives have been lost over the last ten years involving nine vessels in incidents of nickel ore liquefaction. Strict adherence to good industry practice in ...

The final article in our cyber risks series, produced in collaboration with Secure State Cyber, focuses on the benefits of antivirus software, the importance of contingency plans in the event of a cyber-attack and what actions Members can take to ensure good security practice on board their vessels. What are the benefits of employing antivirus software and why does it need to be kept updated? The main purpose of an antivirus software is to check devices for viruses. Antivirus software achieves this by running scans on devices and looking for ...

The frequency of port state control taking spot samples of a ship’s fuel oil to verify its sulphur content is expected to increase significantly after 1 January 2020. Our case studies below show how proper onboard procedures and a well prepared and attentive crew can be crucial in avoiding unwarranted penalties. “Prepare crews for PSC spot sampling of ships’ fuel”. This may seem like pretty minor advice at a time when shipowners are in the midst of preparing their fleets and crews for compliance with the 2020 global sulphur cap. ...

We refer Members to our previous publications on the 2008 amendments to Annex VI of the IMO’s International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships 1973 (as modified by the Protocol of 1978) (MARPOL) and which will come into force on 1 January 2020. The amendments will ensure a significant reduction in the sulphur emissions from ships (the 2020 Global Sulphur Cap) and thereby demonstrate that the shipping industry is committed to meeting its environmental obligations. The 2020 Global Sulphur Cap On and after 1 January 2020, the MARPOL ...

Rivals to Lloyd’s of London are riding a rising tide of marine insurance rates, leaving the 330-year-old market behind after it jettisoned sections of its oldest line of business last year. Premiums for marine insurance, which until 2018 had fallen for years due to rising competition and lower claims, are increasing after a surge in catastrophe losses in the past two years and growing geopolitical tensions. . Neal said that although the sector had performed better in the first quarter, syndicates needed to set “the right price” for the risks ...

Britannia P&I Club is hosting a one-day Members’ seminar in Piraeus on Thursday 27 June. The seminar is aimed at senior managers, superintendents, DPAs and serving officers of Britannia’s Members. The programme will include presentations on the implications and challenges of the Sulphur Cap 2020, passage planning and safety management. A line-up of very experienced Britannia senior managers will be presenting and on hand to offer advice, including: Captain Neale Rodrigues, head of Britannia’s Loss Prevention Department, together with his colleague Shajed Khan; Ella Hagell, head of Britannia’s People Risks ...

The IMO Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) held its 74th session from 13 to 17 May 2019. The meeting was significant being the last MEPC session before the global sulphur cap comes into force from 1 January 2020. The MEPC-73 in October 2018 approved guidance on the development of a ship implementation plan for the consistent implementation of the 0.50% sulphur limit under MARPOL Annex VI (MEPC.1/Circ. 878) and reporting of availability of compliant fuel oils in accordance with Regulation 18.1 of MARPOL Annex VI (MEPC.1/Circ.880). During this session, the ...

North P&I Club joins maritime industry leaders in their commitment to shaping the future of the industry by partnering with the Global Maritime Forum. The Global Maritime Forum is a global platform for high-level leaders from the entire maritime spectrum aiming to effect positive long-term change for the industry and for society. The Forum brings together leaders from across the maritime industry together with stakeholders such as regulators, policy makers, NGOs, intergovernmental institutions and academia to create opportunities for collaboration and problem-solving to tackle important issues facing the industry. North’s ...

Members attending the one hundred and second Annual Meeting of the Club in New York yesterday heard that, although the shipping and insurance sectors had continued to experience headwinds in 2018, the American Club had made solid progress in many areas over the previous twelve months, and that 2019 had started on an encouraging note. Tonnage growth during 2018 had been similar to that of the previous year. P&I entries increased by about 8% and those for FD&D by approximately 6%. While year-on-year premium had decreased slightly, renewing business had ...

The global maritime industry is bracing for the impact of an escalating trade war. On the West Coast of the United States, ports relying on trade with Asia are expected to see ship calls decrease in the coming months as the impact of tariffs slows the movement of goods. Meanwhile, the global marine insurance market is hardening fast after a decade of low premiums and high capacity. With cost control as critical as ever, the maritime industry must prepare for rising insurance and risk management costs. Impending trade war The ...

The West of England P&I, a leading A-rated mutual marine insurer, is launching a new brand identity which looks ahead to an exciting future while continuing to adhere to the values and ethos developed over its 150-year heritage. The new branding encompasses a new WEST logo, new offices in the City of London, and an enhanced website. Explaining the background to this rebrand, Tom Bowsher, Global CEO, said: “West of England is proud of its long heritage of service to the shipping industry, but we are a modern, forward-looking business. ...

North P&I Club hosted their inaugural Americas reception in New York on Tuesday 18 June which was attended by shipowner members, brokers and representatives from North America. The event was attended by North’s Chairman, Pratap Shirke and Board Directors, Don Kurz (Keystone Shipping Co.), Philip Shapiro (Liberty Maritime Corporation) and Peter Winkley (Algoma Central Corporation) with senior members of North’s Americas team. North opened an office in New York in August 2018 to represent their interests in North America. Ian Duthie (Director – Americas) heads up the Club’s regional operations, ...

Skuld’s much appreciated online charter declaration tool has been upgraded to provide a simpler and more user-friendly interface for our clients and brokers. We have listened to our users and focused on creating a simpler and faster solution with fewer clicks and less information that needs to be filled in. As before, the solution is available from the logged-in area on Skuld.com. By handling all charter declarations in this simple overview, clients and brokers will experience a simpler interaction with Skuld and spend less time on emails and follow up. ...